Means for feeding cans



F. B. DONNELLAN.

MEANS FQR- FEEDING CANS. ,APPLICATI'ON HLED OCT. '21, 1920.

- Patented May 16, 1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

Jim/e126 01".

F.- B. DONNELLAN.

MEANS FOR FEEDING CANS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. 1920.

1,416,178, Patented May16,1922.j

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

15 F2 9 V 25 h 20 15 UNITEKE STAtfEfi rarest entice.

FRANK B. DONN'ELLAN, OF SAN FRAlNCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

. MEANS non FEEDING cans.

i-Aiaiss.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. DONNEL- LAN, acitizen of the United States, and resident of San Francisco, county of San Fran:

- eisco and State of California, have invented ing them from such retorts.

As heretofore practiced, canned ,food

stuffs are usually accommodated in retorts filled with high-pressure steam. In my copending applications, Serial Nos. 306,529 and 317,597, filed June 25 and August 14, 1920, respectively, I have disclosed a principle for introducing the cans into the retort and withdrawing them therefrom without loss of steam. The present invention, while embodying practically the same fundamental principle as that disclosed in the ,two copending applications, is an improvement thereon at least to the extent that the salient features of the present embodiment will offer a more practical solution of the problems involved.

In the accompanying.drawings an illustrative embodiment of the invention is made to illustrate the application of the same. I11 said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of that form of cooking retort which has been selected for the purpose of illustration and showing one form of the invention as applied thereto; Figure 2 is a detail view in cross-section of the retort, showing the revolving drums made to manipulate the cans during the cooking operation; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the vacuum inducing means which is used in connection with the invention; Figure A is a side elevation partly in section of the introducing or withdrawing means which, according to the present showing, is applied to diametrical opposite ends of the retort; Figure 5 is an end eleva tion of the same and Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sections on the line 6'-7 Figure-4, and showing the relative positions, one to the other, of the revolvable can receiving members.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the cooking retort (1) which has been selected for the purpose of illustration is of a Specification of Letters Patent. Patented IVIEHIY I6, 1922. Application filedOctober2l, 1920. Serial No. 418,544.

more or less conventional type and includes a relatively long cylindrical container of sufficient size to accommodate a quantity of cans at one time. The retort may be supported horizontally by the base members (2) and (3) with steam connections (not shown) connecting the same with a suitable source of steam supply (also not shown). As is customary in these types of retorts, the interior is equipped with a multiplicity of racks, each of which adapted to receive a single can, and all having a common rotatable mounting (a) which in turn is mounted upon an axial shaft (5) which extends through the retort, with means for driving the same so that the cans may be passed from end to end of the retort. I I

Arranged upon the retort at diametrical opposite ends thereof is the introducing and withdrawing means and (7) respectively, which will enable the cans to be introduced into and withdrawn from the retort while maintaining the desired steam pressure of the retort. The preferred construction of 'these'means' is best shown in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive and attention is now directed to these Figures on sheet 2 of the drawings.

The retort will be equipped with two openings, one for the introduction of the cans therein and one for the Withdrawal; in other words, there will be an opening in the retort forthe introducing means (6) and another opening for the withdrawing means The part referred to by the numeral (8) in Figure 4 will serve as an illustration in both instances. However, the position of the same in this Figure'is such as to adapt it to the introducing means (6), but this is of no consequence, as the introducing means (6) and the withdrawing means (7) are of substantially the same construction-if not identical.

Briefly, the salientfeatures of the introducing means (6) embody at least a pair of can receivingcompartments or the like (9) and (10) each of which is mounted parallel between an upper plate (11) and a lower plate (12) which plates are in turn confined between the plates (13) and (14:) with a shaft (15) passing through all of the plates parallel to the compartments (9) and (10) and fixed to the plates (11) and (12) but free to rotate in hearings in the plates (13) and (la). Oneiend ofthis shaft is operatively associated through means of a worm or other suitable drive consisting of the gears (16) and (17) with a shaft (18) which extends horizontally'of the device and terminates with a chain drive (19) on its end which is driven from the shaft As the compartments (9) and (10) are fixedly confined between the plates (11) and (12) and as the plates are fixedly con.-

nected to the shaft (15) and, further, as the plates (11) and (12) are mounted free to revolve between the plates (13) and (lfl), the shaft becomes a driving element for revolving the compartments (9) and (10) through means of the chain drive (19) and the worm or the like drive comprising the gears (16) and (17).

The plate (13) is provided with an opening (20) through its thickness and of a diameterof that of the compartments (9) and (10). in opening (21)'is also provided in the plate (14:) cater-cornered from the opening (20) and of a diameter of that of the compartments (9) and (10) as well as that of the opening (8) into the retort. The compartments and (10) in being revolved between the plates (13) and (14:) are adapted to register with the openings (20) and (21), the reason for which will be fully appreciated as the description proceeds.

As a means of maintaining the plates (13) and (14) in place, as well as to oifer the required frictional resistance to the plates (11) and (12) which carry the compartments (9) and (10) and which have a ground fit between the first named plates, posts (22) are arranged to connect the plates (13) and (1 1-) with a spring tension device such as the coil springs or the like (23) provided for each post and adapted to impart a yielding clamping eflect to draw the plates (13) and (1%) together. These posts are of course arranged around the circumference of the plates (11) and (12) so a not to interfere with their revolving movement.

Before proceeding further with the description of some of the details, it should be noted that the drive imparted to the shaft (5) will, as above mentioned, revolve the compartments (9) and (10) therefore, considering the opening (20) vin the plate (13) which registers with the top of the compartments as a can introducing opening into the device (6), as each of the compartments (9) and (10) register with the opening (20) a can may be introduced therein and carried around and deposited through the opening (21) into the openin (8) of the retort, where it will be dropped or otherwise placed in a rack carried by the mounting When one of the compartments (9) and 10) is in registering relation with the opening (20), the other compartment will be in registering relation with and the open ing In this connection, the compartment registering with the opening (21) and the opening (8) will be sealed by the plate (13), which will thus prevent the escape of steam from the retort into the atmosphere. Naturally the compartment, however, will be filled with steam, which may be either returned into the retort through a suitable arrangement, or otherwise taken care of. In so far as concerns the present embodiment, no attempt will be made to return the steam thus trapped in the compartment to the retort; nevertheless, the same will be treated or removed from the compartment before the compartment reaches a registering position with the opening (20). To accomplish this, attention is directed to Figure 3 which shows a schematic arrangement. This figure, however, includes a joint connection for both the introducing device (6) and the withdrawing device (7); however, considering its use in connection with the introducingdevice (6), (9) and (10) represent the compartmentsshown in the other figures as (9) and (10), and the position of the compartments in this figure is between the openings (20) and (21) or, in other words, both the top and bottom of the compartments when in this position are closed by the plates (18) and (14).

Going back to Figure 4;, or as better shown in dotted linegin Figure 6, ducts or communications (2e) are arranged in opposite sides of the thickness of the plate (14) and terminate in upwardly presented communications (25) which will establish a com-- munication between the compartments and the ducts (2%) when the compartments are revolved thereover. Connecting exteriorly of the device and communicating with the ducts (24L) a tubing (26) and (2'?) Figure 7).

Again referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the tubing (26) and (27) connects with a manifold piping (28) which in turn has a branch connection (29) communicating with the suction or vacuum pump (30), which may be of any desirable construction. Connected to the vacuum pump (30) by the piping is a water condenser or the like (32). It will therefore follow that a suction created by the pump (30) is made in the tubing (26) and (27) and when the compartments are in registering relation therewith, the steam contained in one compartment and the air contained in the other compartment will be sucked therefrom and introduced into the con denser (32) where the steam will be condensed and where the air may be discharged. into the atmosphere through the opening (38) Therefore it will now follow that the team admitted. to the compartment communicat-ing with the retort will be withdrawn before the compartment reaches a registering position with the opening (20) and at the same time the air contained in. the

partment and as the length of the compartments includes the thickness of the plate (12) it is desirable to prevent the can from restlng upon the plate (14), as the friction thus created would retard and interfere with the effective operation of the device; therefore, eacl1 one of the compartments is provided with a movable supporting ledge or shelf (34) which is arranged in the compartments radially thereof and embodying in its construction a stem (35) which passes through the stufiing box or packing gland (36) and terminates exteriorly of the compartments as well as on the edge of the plate (12). Fixed on the end of the stem is a lug or the like (37) which is seated in an annular groove (38) as best shown in Figures 6 and 7., As the compartments revolve, the lugs (37)"will travel around in the groove (38) and in order that the shelves (34) may be receded so as not to interfere with the discharge or release of the can from the compartment into the retort, the inner edge of the groove (38) is produced with a lip (39) at a point opposite the opening into the retort so that the lugs may ride over the lip and recede the shelves (34) to inactive position confined in a pocket made for this purpose in the lower part of the compartments.

lVith this arrangement it is possible to support the cans in the compartments above the plate (14) until they are moved into position to be released into the retort, where-' upon the shelves (34) will be manipulated as described.

The description so far has been directed primarily to the construction and operation of the can introducing device (6), but in so far as concerns the withdrawing means (7) the. construction may be identical, as the same function is realized in both the introduction and the withdrawal of the cans. To accommodate the device to the withdrawal 1 of the cans, it need be only reversed inposiback into the retort; therefore no special attention need be paid to the removal of steam in thisinstance; at the same time it is thought best to connect the, withdrawing device with the suction creating pump (30) in the same way that the introducing device (6) is connected, to which end the manifold piping (28) will have branch pipes or tubings (26) andv (27) communicating therewith and with the same connected to the withdrawing device in exactly the same manner as the tubings (26) and (27) are connected to the introducing device. It is to be noted that when the compartments Y and (10) of the introducing means are communicating with the tubings (26) and (27 the compartments of the withdrawing means are just in opposite position.

It will be readily appreciated that while that form of the invention selected for the purpose of illustration is shown in combi-' nation with a horizontal retort, the principle involved may be used in connection with a vertical retort; or in fact both the can introducing and withdrawing devices may be arranged on the ends of the retort even when the same is in a horizontal position;

or the like should be applied to deposit the c cans within the retort and for ejecting them therefrom at the opposite end.

. I claim: v

1. In a cooking retort, a can feeding device comprising an opening in the retort, a

plurality of cylinders revolvably mounted over the retort so as to successively register 3 with the opening, a plate supported above the cylinders, means for holding the same in yielding contact with the cylinders, and a can inlet in said plate not registering with the opening in the retort but adapted tosuccessively register with the cylinders.

, 2. In a cooking retort, a can feeding def vice comprising an opening in the retort, a plate supported in spaced relation to the opening having a can inlet not registering with the opening, a cylinder revolvably mounted between the retort and the plate adapted to successively register with the can inlet to receive a can and with the opening to discharge the can into retort, and vacuum means for withdrawing steam from the cylthe opening and the can inlet.

3. In a cooking retort, a can feeding device comprising an opening in the retort, a plate supported in spaced relation to the opening having a can inlet not registering with the opening, and a cylinder revolvably mounted between the retort and the plate adapted to successively register with the can inlet to receive a can and with the opening to discharge the can into the retort, and means associated with the cylinders for supporting the cans while intransit.

4. In a cooking retort, a can feeding device comprising an opening in the retort, a

inder while the same is travelling between adapted to successively register With the can inlet to receive a can and with the openmg to discharge the can into the retort, and

a cylinder revolvably means associated with the cylinders for sup porting the cans while intransit said means eomprlslng a shelf extendinginto each cylinder and means for Withdrawing the same When the cylinder registers wlth the retort i opening. I

FRANK B. DONNELLAN. 

